9. Consuming Energy Resources: Impact of Energy Production / Access to Energy

Question 1

What are impacts of Mining for Fossil Fuels on the environment?

Answer 1

Mining:
- strips areas of soil, rock and vegetation - permanent scar on landscape
- Habitats destroyed to make way for mines - clearing forests etc - which affects water cycle - less trees to soak - soil erosion
- Release greenhouse gasses - CO2 and methane -> global warming

Question 2

What are impact of Drilling for Fossil Fuels on the Environment?

Answer 2

Drilling - extraction of oil and gas:
- Onshore - lands stripped of vegetation
- Risk of oils spills damages environment esp at sea e.g Deepwater Horizon - 4m barrels of oil in Gulf of Mexico
- Extraction of natural gas from underground - releases methane to atmosphere - greenhouse effect - global warming

Question 3

What impacts do Renewable Energy production have on the environment?

Answer 3

Wind - Many turbines - lot of space. Wind farms create humming noice. Spinning blades can kill birds etc

Solar - Water required to clean panels - water shortage in arid areas - disrupts ecosystems. Heat reflects from mirrors can kill wildlife. Panels on ground can disturb habitats

HEP - Dams - Reservoir - > floods large area of land. Rivers affected by changes in water flow -> sediment in reservoir -> block sunlight causing plants and algae in river to die

Question 4

Factors affecting access to energy?

Answer 4

Resources unevenly distributed - 25% of gas in Russia

Technology - some countries can’t exploit resource - tech too expensive e.g. Niger large uranium deposited - Developed countries can exploit more renewable suppliers - developing rely on fossil fuels

Geology - fossil fuels in sedimentary rocks - countries on plate boundaries access to geo thermal energy

Accessibility - Unable to access large resources - e.g. Permafrost or Protected areas

Climate - Solar needs lots of sunlight - sunnier countries use solar more effectively vs duller

Landscape - Wind turbines need steady and reliable source of wind - e.g. high ground or costal. HEP needs lots of water and steep valleys for reservoirs

Question 5

How is Global Energy consumption unevenly distributed?

Answer 5

Strong relationship between Development and Energy Consumption

Developed - consume more per person - can afford it - Most have access to electricity and heating and use energy for e.g. cars

Emerging - people buying more things that require energy

Developing - Consume less per person - can’t afford it - less energy available - lifestyles less dependent

Industrial activities - need large amount of energy - machinery / transport. Manufacturing in developed / emerging use huge amount. Developing more primary industry uses less energy